In the last few years, carbohydrates have received a really bad rap for being unhealthy and contributing to weight gain. Diets and eating plans such as the Atkin’s Diet or Banting diets rule out most or all carbohydrates and claim their success based on this. The thing is, there are good carbohydrates and bad carbohydrates and not all carbs should be ruled out as unhealthy.

Carbohydrates As Fuel

Carbohydrates can be divided into simple and complex carbs. Both of these are broken down in the body during the digestive process and burned as a premium source of energy. Since the beginning of time, carbohydrates have been used by the body as fuel to carry out daily tasks and they’re still a prominent source of energy.

Simple Carbohydrates

Simple carbohydrates are the closest to the broken-down version of carbohydrates that the body uses for fuel. Sugars are simple carbohydrates and they are converted straight into energy by the body and used as fuel. This doesn’t mean that sugars are a good source of healthy energy. The energy gained from burning sugars is very temporary and it is quick to burn. Once it has been burned off by the body, it drops the energy levels lower than they were before consumption, which is what is meant by sugar highs and lows. Quick highs and unpleasant lows make it an unsustainable source of energy for the body.

Generally speaking, sugar is the first thing to be removed from a diet plan because it doesn’t provide much nutritional value aside from energy. People suffering from diabetes will need to reduce their intake of simple sugars as they contribute to higher blood sugar levels.

In saying that, not all simple carbohydrates are “bad”. Simple carbs or sugars are also found in foods such as fresh fruit, vegetables and milk, which are incredibly beneficial for the human body from a nutritional point of view.

Complex Carbohydrates

Complex carbs are your starches, which take longer for the body to break down. Complex carbs can come in the form of cakes and pastries, which are refined carbohydrates. These are generally not the type of complex carbs you want to be adding to your diet as they are burned very quickly and don’t offer much nutritional value. The other side of the complex carbs spectrum is starchy vegetables, wholegrain breads, rice and wholegrain pasta, which are burned slowly by the body and provide many different nutrients. They do contribute to a rise in blood sugar levels, but it’s a slow, consistent release that is much easier on the body and provides more sustained energy.

So, as you can tell, not all carbohydrates are bad and they shouldn’t all be lumped together as unhealthy. It’s worth gaining a better understanding about your food groups so that you can make educated decisions for your optimal health.